Homegrown police dog bred for success

The exceptional sniffing ability of the Kunming dog is attributed to two key factors: the accumulation of superior genetic traits through generations of selective breeding and a training system tailored to their unique scent detection capabilities.

In mountainous terrains and on hard surfaces, the Kunming dog demonstrates superior endurance.

The breed can work continuously for 10 minutes under these conditions, compared with the 5-minute average for other breeds, said Fang Shaoqin, director of the application guidance department at the police dog base.

Fang added that the Kunming dog is empathetic and loyal to its owner. When Fang started training a dog named Yingzi, he fed him by hand and was bitten on the finger. The next day, when he saw Yingzi again, the dog seemed to have an apologetic look in his eyes.

From that point on, Yingzi became much more composed. The dog never bit Fang's fingers again, even at feeding time.

Another trainer, Wan Kui, said that when he started training Xiaohuang, the dog was ill for an extended period.

However, Wan never gave up on the animal. As training progressed, the 42-year-old trainer and Xiaohuang developed a strong bond. With just a wave of Wan's hand, Xiaohuang could instinctively understand whether it was time to do obedience training or search tasks.

Now, Xiaohuang is a lively, outgoing dog with a friendly nature. When kindergarten children visit, he remains calm and gentle as dozens of little hands pet him, never showing any signs of aggression.

In addition, Xiaohuang excels in search training. Wan said in mountainous and forested regions, police dogs are essential for tracking down criminal suspects or finding missing elderly people and children, particularly when other methods have fallen short.